Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and David Perdue (R-GA) introduced legislation to restrict ISIS’ ability to profit from the sale of antiquities. ISIS has ransacked cities and pillaged historical artifacts, as it did in Palmyra, and then sold those antiquities on the black market. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has reported that this trafficking may be the group’s second largest source of revenue. The Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act, would give the Administration the authority to impose import restrictions on Syrian antiquities. Ordinarily the process of restricting the sale of illicit historical artifacts could be done through the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, but since the U.S. lacks diplomatic relations with the Assad regime in Syria, additional authorities are needed.

“The artifacts representing our world’s cultural heritage shouldn’t be used to finance ISIS’ terrorist and criminal operations,” Senator Casey said. “This legislation will not only help to cut off a major source of ISIS’s funding, but will also work to prevent them from continuing to pillage historical sites and destroy precious cultural heritage.”

“Since World War II, the United States has led the international effort to protect and preserve cultural property during times of conflict and crisis,” said Senator Perdue. “This legislation supports efforts to halt ISIS and other terrorist groups from profiting off of instability in Syria and to save priceless cultural heritage, artifacts, and sites. We cannot allow ISIS or anyone to demolish these key pieces of the world’s rich history.”

“We need to do everything we can to stop terrorist financing,” Senator Grassley said. “This bill would help cut off a source of the funding that supports terror and instability in Syria and beyond. The Senate should pass our bill as soon as possible.”

ISIS Antiquities Smuggling

In recent months, a series of reports have indicated that ISIS and criminal opportunists in Iraq and Syria have sought to profit from looting antiquities and selling them illegally on the black market. According to the State Department, on May 15, U.S. Special Operations Forces recovered a cache of hundreds of archaeological and historical objects and fragments during a raid in al-Amr (eastern Syria) to capture ISIL leader Abu Sayyaf.

There is evidence that ISIS collects a tax on antiquities excavated and smuggled out of its territory. Artifacts are sold to IS-approved dealers, who complete the transaction and are then granted safe passage through IS territory.

While government officials say that the majority of the trade is run by the ISIS, reports suggest that many groups, including portions of the Syrian government, other combatants, criminal networks also smuggle or trade in antiquities.

Why do we need legislation?

The U.S. is a party to a 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. In 1982, Congress passed the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (CPIA), which enabled the U.S. government to implement the UNESCO convention.

The United States is a market for antiquities. One provision of CPIA gives the State Department authority to enter into memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with foreign countries to help protect their antiquities by restricting the import of certain items to the United States. Since the U.S. doesn’t have diplomatic relations with the Assad regime, a traditional MOU cannot be entered into. Section 8 of the legislation gives the Administration the authority to impose import restrictions on Syrian antiquities, waiving the provisions of current law that require a request from the country of origin.

The House of Representatives has already passed a partner bill, authored by Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Representative Ed Royce (R-CA).

“Governor Rauner appreciates today’s action in the House and thanks all those members who showed leadership on this issue. We encourage President Cullerton to swiftly move this legislation to the governor’s desk for his signature. Governor Rauner is ready to work with Speaker Madigan, Leader Durkin and all members of the General Assembly to pass true structural reforms and a balanced budget.”

###]]>rick@rcreader.com (Catherine Kelly)General InfoThu, 30 Jul 2015 17:12:47 +0000Iowans of the Day Selected for the 2015 Iowa State Fairhttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/iowans-of-the-day-selected-for-the-2015-iowa-state-fair/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/iowans-of-the-day-selected-for-the-2015-iowa-state-fair/DES MOINES, IA (07/28/2015)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and Cookies Food Products are pleased to announce the recipients of the Iowan of the Day award for the 2015 Iowa State Fair.

Each winner will have their own day at the Iowa State Fair. He or she will be recognized on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage and presented as an Iowan of the Day. Along with accommodations at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott, they will each receive a cash prize, Grandstand and Iowa State Fair admission tickets, use of the Iowan of the Day golf cart, and one year subscriptions to The Iowan and Iowa Gardening magazines.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation began the Iowan of the Day award in 1997 to honor those Iowans who have truly made a difference in their communities. This year, the judges reviewed hundreds of nominations and selected those that demonstrate integrity, Iowa pride, hard work and dedication.

"We are so pleased to recognize these tremendous individuals as Iowans of the Day," said Peter Cownie, Executive Director of the Blue Ribbon Foundation. "Their volunteerism, dedication and service to their community, and to the state of Iowa, make each deserving of this honor."

The 2015 Iowan of the Day recipients are:

John and Janis Ruan of Des Moines

Jary Quandt of Westside

Richard and Juanita Schillig of Bettendorf

Bret Mace of Estherville

Caroline Lehman of New London

Dennis Carlson of Hampton

Mike Quinlan of Iowa City

Elaine Bohling of Greenfield

Steven Palmer of Urbandale

Shawn Tait of Exline

The Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $110 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

###

]]>rick@rcreader.com (Drew Norton)General InfoWed, 29 Jul 2015 16:12:25 +0000HUD releases audit of Omaha Housing Authority at Grassley's urginghttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/hud-releases-audit-of-omaha-housing-authority-at-grassleys-urging/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/hud-releases-audit-of-omaha-housing-authority-at-grassleys-urging/Sen. Chuck Grassley asked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a copy of an audit of the Omaha Housing Authority, following a series of Nebraska Watchdog stories. HUD has released the audit at Grassley’s urging. Grassley is a long-time advocate for government transparency and for making sure HUD conducts proper oversight of the billions of federal dollars deemed to provide safe, affordable housing for those in need. Grassley made the following comment on the audit and its release.

“The audit has damaging findings about the housing authority that require correction, as HUD says. It’s unclear why the audit hasn’t seen the light of day, but now that it has, HUD should continue to make sure the Omaha Housing Authority is in compliance with rules for spending federal tax dollars. In the future, HUD should be more transparent with audits conducted at taxpayer expense in the public interest.”

The audit is available here.]]>rick@rcreader.com (Grassley Press)General InfoWed, 29 Jul 2015 16:03:20 +0000‘Furnish Out’ Offers Beautiful Furniture While Helping Orphans in Chinahttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/furnish-out-offers-beautiful-furniture-while-helping-orphans-in-china/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/furnish-out-offers-beautiful-furniture-while-helping-orphans-in-china/IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - In August 2011, Carrie and Dan Paschke, Bettendorf, and their three children moved to Beijing, China. While they were overseas, a chance encounter with two businessmen led to the birth of a new local business, Furnish Out, which exists to sell unique handmade home furnishings to raise funds on an ongoing basis for orphaned children in China.

While searching for locally made souvenirs in China, Carrie met two local businessmen, George and John, who specialize in handmade furniture and home furnishings. Each owns his own business and employs a team of artisans. “They create or remake armoires, tables of every kind, headboards, cabinets, chairs and much more, all by hand, using new or reclaimed wood,” said Carrie. “They also acquire and, when necessary, refinish wooden baskets, decorative boxes, doors, buckets, basins, and other accessory pieces that have been collected from torn-down villages all over China.” Carrie is delighted to continue working with George and John after her family’s return to the United States in December 2013.

Carrie will now be selling these items through her newly formed business in the United States and donating 100 percent of the profits to China Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides support to orphaned children and is run by some of her close friends. Furnish Out is operating under a ‘business to fund charity model’ that will create a sustainable income stream in the future which will be used to help China Hope Foundation for years to come. Furnish Out will hold a sale of these unique items from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the weekends of August 21-22 and August 29-30 at Carrie’s home at 6536 Blackberry Lane, Bettendorf, IA.

While in Beijing, Carrie volunteered at a foster home and met the orphaned children who lived there. To varying degrees, most had special needs or were awaiting surgeries for pre-existing health conditions. “They loved to sing songs, and they never let me leave without a hug goodbye,” she said. “During my time in China I met around 50 orphans, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the millions believed by child welfare groups to exist throughout the country. My father always says that ‘every little bit counts’ and I believe in this case, that’s true. I can’t fix the problem, but I can help.”

Carrie plans to make trips to China one to two times per year to purchase handmade furniture and home accessories from George and John. “I will then sell each piece in America and donate 100 percent of the profit to the China Hope Foundation,” she said. “I know there is a market for George and John’s work in America and the money will be going to a great cause at the same time.”

]]>rick@rcreader.com (Mark McLaughlin)General InfoWed, 29 Jul 2015 13:46:19 +0000Americans With Disabilities Acthttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/americans-with-disabilities-act/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/americans-with-disabilities-act/ I know how critical the support services created by the ADA are to families living with disabilities. The ADA was an important first step, but far too often people with disabilities still face discrimination and prejudice. That is why I am a proud cosponsor of the IDEA Full Funding Act, which would ensure that special education is funded appropriately, and the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act, which would allow individuals with disabilities to create their own special needs trusts through Medicaid. Currently, only a grandparent, parent or legal guardian can set up this trust, even though they use the individuals own money. This must be changed to empower the individual.

Please know that I am committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have the opportunity to live productive, happy, fulfilling lives, and I look forward to staying in touch about this important topic.

Sincerely,

Dave Loebsack Iowa's Second District

]]>rick@rcreader.com (Vonnie Hampel)General InfoMon, 27 Jul 2015 14:46:25 +0000Smiddy Cautions Safety During Summer Heat; Urges Use of Cooling Centers for Those in Need http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/smiddy-cautions-safety-during-summer-heat-urges-use-of-cooling-centers-for-those-in-need-/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/smiddy-cautions-safety-during-summer-heat-urges-use-of-cooling-centers-for-those-in-need-/“Extreme temperatures can pose a serious threat for those without access to a cool place, and, unfortunately, heat-related illnesses claim the lives of people in Illinois every year,” Smiddy said. “I urge everyone to know the signs of heat stroke, take a few moments to check on elderly or sick neighbors and get to a cool place before you’re overheated and are feeling badly.”

Symptoms of heat-related illness include headaches, skin that is hot to the touch, increased body temperature, loss of consciousness, seizures and irregular heartbeats. Smiddy urges residents to stay cool and avoid illness by increasing water intake, decrease strenuous, outdoor physical activity and remain in air-conditioning when possible.

Illinois maintains over 120 state facilities that can provide a cool, comfortable place for those in need to stay safe during extreme heat. The centers remain open during normal business hours from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding holidays. For more information about cooling centers or to find a location near you, please call the Illinois Department of Human Services hotline at 800-843-6154 or visit www.illinois.gov/KeepCool.

Sen. Chuck Grassley has received a response from the American Red Cross related to his inquiry on spending on earthquake relief in Haiti. He made the following comment on the response.

“I still have a lot more questions for the Red Cross. It’s unclear why the Red Cross enters into contracts with other organizations stipulating that details of grants can’t be disclosed to the media or donors. Who’s driving the lack of disclosure, the Red Cross or the grant recipients? What’s the rationale for it? It’s hard to see how disclosing the dollar amounts given from the Red Cross to the individual organizations and how those organizations spent the money would harm anyone. I look forward to an explanation. I have other questions about the spending numbers and how they add up and the overhead costs for both the Red Cross and the grantee organizations. Also, I’d like to see more details of the results achieved from each of the partner organizations. Transparency and accountability are important for any spending in the public interest. With that in mind, I’ll continue to ask questions on behalf of the donating, taxpaying public.”

The Red Cross’ responses to Grassley’s questions are available here, excluding the details of partner organizations.

WASHINGTON— Led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, all members of the Iowa congressional delegation have added their support for Gov. Terry Branstad’s request for a federal declaration of a major disaster for the state as a result of severe weather during that occurred during the period of June 20, 2015 and June 25, 2015. The letter was signed by Grassley, Sen. Joni Ernst, and Reps. Steve King, Dave Loebsack, Rod Blum and David Young.

“The Governor determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments to handle effectively and federal assistance is needed,” the members wrote.

Sentencing Commission amendment allows for the release of thousands of federal inmates this November

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) pressed Attorney General Loretta Lynch for information about the thousands of federal prison inmates who will be released in November as a result of the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s decision to lower federal sentencing for all drug trafficking and distribution crimes. Those expected to be released include inmates with violent criminal histories, who have committed crimes involving assault, firearms, sodomy, and even murder.

In early 2014, the Sentencing Commission promulgated Amendment 782, which imposed a two-level reduction in the base offense levels for all drug trafficking and distribution offenses, including trafficking offenses that involve drug quantities substantial enough to trigger mandatory minimum sentences. The Commission made those reductions retroactive, applying them to all inmates in the Bureau of Prison’s custody who are serving a sentence for a drug offense. Over the past year, thousands of federal inmates have filed motions with their courts of jurisdiction for sentence reductions.

In their letter to Attorney General Lynch, Chairmen Goodlatte and Grassley note that their concerns about violent offenders being released were ultimately ignored by the Sentencing Commission. They request that Attorney General Lynch provide the House and Senate Judiciary Committees with detailed information about the federal inmates who will be released on November 1 or thereafter.

Below is the text of the letter. A copy of the signed letter can be found here.

Senate Passes Protections for Whistleblowers of Antitrust Crimes

WASHINGTON – The Senate has unanimously passed legislation to extend whistleblower protections for employees who provide information to their employer or the Department of Justice regarding criminal antitrust violations. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-retaliation Act was introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy.

“Violators of antitrust laws put businesses and our economic wellbeing at risk, so whistleblowers who call attention to violators should be praised, not punished. Unfortunately, these folks often face retribution at work for their efforts to correct misconduct. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-retaliation Act protects these individuals from workplace retaliation and abuse. It may also serve as a deterrent of future misconduct. I’m grateful for the work of my colleagues to move this bill forward and urge my colleagues in the House of Representative to take action to shield these whistleblowers from reprisal,” Grassley said.

“I applaud the Senate for passing bipartisan legislation that will protect employees who blow the whistle on criminal antitrust violations. Whistleblowers play an important role in alerting the public, Congress, and law enforcement agencies to wrongdoing in a number of areas. By protecting those who would blow the whistle on criminal antitrust behavior, our bill will help facilitate the reporting of violations that ultimately affect consumers. I urge the House to pass this bipartisan legislation,” Leahy said.

The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act establishes protections for whistleblowers who assist in criminal antitrust cases by prohibiting employers from retaliating against an employee who provides information to the employer or the Justice Department regarding conduct that violates the criminal antitrust laws. The bill allows an employee who believes he or she is the victim of retaliation to file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor, and provides for that employee to be reinstated to their former status if the Secretary finds in their favor. Grassley and Leahy authored similar whistleblower statutes as part of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002.

The Senate unanimously passed a similar version of the legislation last Congress. The legislation is based on recommendations from a Government Accountability Office report released in July 2011. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa joined Senators John Hoeven, Debbie Stabenow and other members of the Senate Agriculture Committee today to introduce the Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and Trade Enhancement Act of 2015. The bipartisan measure is designed to prevent retaliatory trade sanctions by Canada and Mexico, yet still allow voluntary labeling of beef, pork and chicken that is produced in the United States.

“A voluntary labeling program is a simple solution that will allow the United States to abide by its WTO obligations while giving producers the option to label their products,” said Grassley. “It’s an approach that Canada has also taken. In the end, Americans should be able to know where their meat comes from, with a label that has integrity based on a single definition of U.S. pork and beef, just like they know where their t-shirts come from.”

The bipartisan bill positions the U.S. to avoid retaliatory tariffs by repealing the mandatory COOL law and replacing it with a voluntary program that will enable processors to voluntarily label meat products. The bill maintains the integrity of the label, ensuring that the product is actually “born, raised and slaughtered in the United States,” rather than just processed in the U.S.

In May 2015, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled for the fourth time that the United States’ mandatory COOL law violates international trade agreements. The WTO is undergoing an arbitration process to determine the level of retaliation that Canada and Mexico will be authorized to implement. Both countries say they intend to implement retaliatory tariffs should the U.S. fail to address the current COOL law. Canada has said it will seek more than $3 billion and Mexico will seek $650 million in countervailing duties.

Grassley’s remarks from today’s press conference are below. Video of the press conference can be found here.

I thank Senator Hoeven and Senator Stabenow for their work to find a solution to Country of Origin Labeling that works for everyone.

We started working on COOL back in the late 90s.

I have always supported COOL for meat, because I believe consumers have a right to know where their food is coming from.

They know where their t-shirts come from.

However, we must be true to our obligations at the World Trade Organization which has ruled against our current law.

This bill is a WTO compliant path forward for Country of Origin Labeling.

There’s no way that Canada can dispute a voluntary labeling program when they have the same basic program.

In the past, Canada has even proposed to the United States that a voluntary option could be a solution.

To me, COOL boils down to one major point- the definition of what constitutes U.S. beef and pork.

The bill introduced today will allow the market to decide in a voluntary way if meat should be labeled with its country of origin.

That will address the required segregation with mandatory labeling that everyone agrees is the core of the WTO case.

If companies choose to label their product with a U.S. origin label, that label needs to have integrity.

The bill today ensures there is a single, clear definition of what constitutes meat labeled as a product of the U.S.

That is very important to me and many of my constituents who produce our meat.

Consumers will also be able to have confidence in the label on their meat.

They will have the assurance that if a meat label says ‘Product of the U.S.’ it truly is an American product.

Grassley Statement at an Executive Business Meeting on the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act

Good morning. The bipartisan Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2015, S. 1169, is first on today’s agenda. This bill, which I introduced in April with Senator Whitehouse, extends the authorization for some key juvenile justice programs, which expired in 2007. The bill also will go a long way to ensure accountability in the spending of federal grant funds.

Dozens of organizations, including Fight Crime Invest in Kids, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, Boys Town, and Rights 4 Girls worked with us on this bill’s development and at least 100 groups have signed endorsement letters in support of S. 1169. I want to take this opportunity to also thank the members of this Committee who are cosponsors, including Senators Cornyn, Leahy, Hatch, Coons, and Blumenthal. The bill is a truly bipartisan effort.

Senator Whitehouse and I have a complete substitute amendment to this measure that we will now offer for this Committee’s consideration.

Among other things, our substitute amendment, like the bill it would amend, calls for continued congressional support of programs that serve at-risk youth. Such youth include, for example, youths who are being exploited by human traffickers and children with trauma, mental health or substance abuse issues. Our substitute, like S. 1196, also phases out an exception in current law that permits States to lock up children who have committed so-called “status offenses,” which would not be an offense if committed by adults. These include offenses like running away, truancy, or violating a curfew.

And, like the underlying bill, our substitute amendment not only extends the authorization for existing juvenile justice programs, which are designed to keep juveniles away from adult offenders, but it does so in a way that is fiscally responsible. The substitute, just like S. 1196, limits authorized funding levels for these programs to the amounts provided by appropriators for juvenile justice programs in recent years, with a slight adjustment for inflation.

But the substitute is an improvement over the bill we originally introduced in several ways. First, the amendment would accord greater priority in federal funding to those programs that are scientifically proven to work with at-risk juveniles. The addition of this new language will ensure that scarce federal resources must go primarily to the most meritorious programs.

Second, the substitute also incorporates some new provisions to encourage States to phase out the use of unreasonable restraints of juveniles in detention. Such practices include, for example, the shackling of girls during childbirth. We worked with human trafficking advocates as well as Senators Schumer and Cornyn on the development of this language. Senator Durbin also worked with us on the development of language that calls for States to consider alternatives to detention for nonviolent youth who come into contact with the criminal justice system, and that language now is part of this amendment

Finally, the amendment incorporates some grant accountability reforms that are not in the original version of S. 1196. In recent years, I’ve actively engaged in oversight of the Justice Department, and during this time, the DOJ Inspector General has identified grant management as one of the top management and performance challenges at the Department. In this same period--most recently at an oversight hearing I chaired in April--we have witnessed numerous controversies relating to the grant making and oversight practices of the Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, or OJJDP.

The amendment reflects technical input from the Inspector General’s Office and is designed to help resolve the accountability problems that have plagued OJJDP for years. It will require GAO audits of the agency’s internal controls every three years as well as audits of certain States receiving grants. It also will require the Justice Department’s Audit, Assessment Office to institute a comprehensive review of OJJDP’s internal controls.

It will tighten bill language that holds States accountable for failing to meet the law’s core requirements, by ensuring that States must incur a substantial financial penalty if they are out of compliance. And it will not only encourage the Attorney General to provide States with greater technical guidance on compliance with the law’s core requirements, but it also will require each State grantee to designate someone who must certify to that State’s compliance with the law’s core requirements.

I'm glad to have had the opportunity to work on these key reform provisions. And I am pleased we have revisited the authorizing statute for some vitally important juvenile justice programs—a statute which is long overdue for an update, to reflect the latest scientific research on what works with at-risk adolescents.

WASHINGTON – Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson, and Congressmen Bob Goodlatte and John Conyers today expressed great concern with an opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel that allows the Justice Department to deny access to records sought by the Inspector General.

The Inspector General Act of 1978 authorizes the Inspector General to access “all records” in the Department’s possession. However, today, the Office of Legal Counsel’s 58-page opinion argues that other provisions generally restricting the “disclosure” of certain kinds of information override the specific instruction that the Inspector General have access to all records of the Department. The Office of Legal Counsel reaches this conclusion despite clear and recent legislation enacted in response to the controversy over these very access issues. Following several instances of the Inspector General testifying to Congress about the Justice Department hindering his oversight by withholding records, Congress enacted, and the President signed, Section 218 of the Department of Justice’s fiscal 2015 Appropriations Act. That provision prohibited the use of any funds to deny the Inspector General timely access to records. The only exception was for any “express” limitation in the Inspector General Act.

The Justice Department has denied or substantially delayed the Inspector General’s access to records in connection with a number of inquiries, including those related to: (1) whether the Department had violated the civil liberties and civil rights of individuals detained in national security investigations following September 11, (2) the review of Operation Fast and Furious, (3) the review of the FBI’s use of National Security and Exigent letters, (4) the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sex parties scandal, (5) the DEA’s use of confidential sources, and (6) the DEA’s use of administrative subpoenas to obtain bulk data collections.

The Department’s refusal to provide records on a timely basis as required by law wastes months in bureaucratic roadblocks and frustrates the independent oversight Congress created Inspectors General to provide. Prior to 2010, the FBI and other agencies in the Justice Department routinely provided similar information to the Inspector General’s office.

Here are comments from Grassley, Johnson, Goodlatte and Conyers.

Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee:

“The Inspector General Act of 1978 directs that Inspectors General have a right to access all records, documents and other materials. If the Inspector General deems a document necessary to do his job, then the agency should turn it over immediately. The clear command of that law is being ignored far too often by agencies across the executive branch. By this opinion’s tortured logic, ‘all records’ does not mean ‘all records,’ and Congress’s recent attempt to underscore our original intent with an appropriations restriction is nothing but a nullity. The prospect of the Obama administration using this opinion to stonewall oversight, avoid accountability, and undermine the independence of inspectors general is alarming.”

“I am deeply concerned that this opinion undermines the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General’s independence, and ultimately the independence of all inspectors general, as other agencies will likely use its misguided arguments to justify stonewalling their own watchdogs. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee recently reported out S. 579, the Inspector General Empowerment Act of 2015, which makes clear Congress’s view that inspectors general must be given prompt, unfettered access to agency documents for purposes of carrying out their responsibilities under the act. Unfortunately, the Department of Justice today has dug further into its position — against the clear will of Congress — that the agency is not always obligated to provide documents to its inspector general, and that the agency itself gets to choose when to grant permission to access certain documents. I am committed to working with my colleagues to ensure all inspectors general have the statutorily mandated independence from their agency that is so crucial to performing their responsibilities.”

Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

“Today’s Office of Legal Counsel opinion contains the same kind of outcome-oriented lawyering that produced the Department of Justice’s infamous recess appointments memorandum, which was unanimously rejected by the Supreme Court in 2014. The law is clear that the Office of the Inspector General should have unfettered access to materials for its investigations, but political lawyers at the Department of Justice have engaged in legal gymnastics to shield key information from government watchdogs.

“The Office of Legal Counsel’s efforts to reduce transparency will leave the Department of Justice vulnerable to mismanagement and misconduct. This is not the type of government the American people deserve. The House Judiciary Committee will work with other committees of jurisdiction to explore a legislative fix to reiterate Congress’ intent that the Office of the Inspector General is entitled access to all documents and records within DOJ’s possession.”

Congressman John Conyers, Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee:

“This opinion is a departure from the plain text of the statute and the intent of Congress when we drafted it—but this one memorandum hardly ends the conversation. The Inspector General must have complete and direct access to the information that his office deems necessary to conduct complete and impartial investigations. He should not have to ask permission from the very agency he oversees. I suspect that we will work quickly, and likely with overwhelming and bipartisan majorities, to make certain that the Inspector General Act is explicit on this point.”

An Inspector General investigation can be prevented under the law in certain limited circumstances, but the Attorney General is required to explain in writing to both the Inspector General and Congress why the Inspector General’s work should be impeded despite the Inspector General Act’s guarantee of access to all agency records – something that the Attorney General has failed to do in each of the many instances records were withheld from the Inspector General since 2010.

The members said they would be working to determine a path forward to fix the issue that remains unresolved by the Office of Legal Counsel’s opinion.

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee today passed legislation from Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse that would ensure that at-risk youth are fairly and effectively served by juvenile justice grant programs. Their legislation updates existing law by promoting improved transparency and accountability at the state and federal level. It also adds additional support for youth with mental illnesses and guards against fraud and mismanagement of grant funds through enhanced oversight.

“Juvenile justice programs are important tools to help local communities serve and protect at-risk youth, however the law authorizing these programs hasn’t been revisited in more than a dozen years. Our bill provides a long-overdue policy refresh to improve opportunities for our nation’s must vulnerable children and strengthen safeguards for youth who encounter the juvenile justice system. Just as importantly, we created an oversight structure that will help ensure that both federal grant making agencies and grantees are held accountable for their actions with young people and for the taxpayer money for which they are responsible. Our goal is to make sure that youth can benefit from the programs’ full potential,” Grassley said. “I hope the Senate will act quickly to move this bill forward.”

“This long-awaited reauthorization could put a real dent in the school-to-prison pipeline and assure that law enforcement intervention with kids does the least possible unnecessary harm to them and to their futures.” said Whitehouse. “It’s a commonsense bill that will help kids maintain their education while detained, keep kids out of jail for status offenses that would never land an adult in prison, divert them to substance abuse and mental health services if that's the real problem, better protect them from adult criminals and from solitary confinement, and address racial disparities in the current system. I thank Chairman Grassley for his leadership on this issue and I hope to see the bill passed by the full Senate soon.”

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act was created in 1974 to ensure the safety of at-risk youth who enter the criminal justice system, and assist states with their juvenile justice programs and activities. The program has not been updated since the last reauthorization passed Congress in 2002.

Grassley and Whitehouse said they appreciate the endorsement of more than 150 organizations that have voiced support for the bill.

The Grassley-Whitehouse bill:

· Revises and extends authorization for the key juvenile justice programs that were originally authorized under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974. The law has four core requirements, or protections, for youth in contact with the criminal justice system, with which states must comply in order to be eligible for juvenile justice funding.

· Limits spending levels for the reauthorized juvenile justice programs to amounts appropriated by Congress for the same or similar programs in the most recent fiscal year, adjusted by 2 percent annually for inflation.

· Phases out the “Valid Court Order” exception that permits states to lock up juveniles for status offenses that would never land an adult in prison such as running away, curfew violations or truancy.

· Provides for enhanced accountability and oversight of Justice Department grant making practices based on input from the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General and the Congressional Research Service.

· Adds a requirement that the Justice Department offer periodic training and technical assistance to states on best practices and protocols to achieve compliance with the law’s core requirements, as well as a requirement that states designate one individual who shall certify the state’s compliance with the core requirements.

· Conditions receipt of grant funds on new state planning requirements.

In addition, the bill addresses concerns brought forward by whistleblowers and verified by the Justice Department. The whistleblowers provided evidence that many states fall short of core requirements that are a condition of the states receiving taxpayer-funded grants. The Justice Department office responsible for overseeing the program acknowledged, after Senator Grassley chaired an April 2015 hearing on that office’s grant making practices, that since 1997 it has followed an unlawful policy, which allowed states to receive these juvenile justice grants despite violations of funding requirements. This oversight hearing prompted Grassley and Whitehouse to craft the new accountability requirements to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used appropriately, and youth are being adequately served.

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review various aspects of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, including federal oversight of the program. According to the GAO, this program is the largest source of federal assistance for developing affordable rental housing with an estimated cost of $8 billion in forgone revenue in 2014. The GAO found that the IRS conducted “minimal” oversight of the state housing finance agencies (HFAs) that award the tax credits to developers. The GAO said, “Monitoring, one of the internal control standards, should occur in the course of normal operations, be performed continually, and be ingrained in the agency’s operations,” yet the GAO found that the IRS has performed only seven audits of HFAs (of 56 total HFAs) between 1986 and 2015. The GAO further stated, “As a result of minimal monitoring, IRS does not know the extent of compliance monitoring by HFAs, which limits its ability to determine if the HFAs appropriately awarded credits to projects.” The GAO also said the state entities “increasingly” have missed the deadline to submit their annual report to the IRS and “often submit incomplete or inaccurate forms.” Grassley, a watchdog of the IRS and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, released the GAO report and made the following comment on it.

“This report confirms what we’ve seen again and again. The federal government is good at giving out money and tax breaks and terrible at checking on results. No one at the IRS or HUD seems to have any way of knowing whether a multi-billion-dollar program for low-income housing has worked as intended. This doesn’t bring accountability, and it may or may not deliver affordable housing for people in need. The agencies need to step up their oversight for the sake of low-income people who need housing and the taxpayers who deserve accountability.”

The report is available here. The GAO is performing subsequent reviews of the tax credit at Grassley’s request.]]>rick@rcreader.com (Grassley Press)General InfoFri, 24 Jul 2015 13:39:02 +0000Loebsack Encourages Students to Apply for Fall Internshipshttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/loebsack-encourages-students-to-apply-for-fall-internships/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/loebsack-encourages-students-to-apply-for-fall-internships/Positions available in Iowa City, Davenport and Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C – Congressman Dave Loebsack today announced that his office is now accepting applications from Iowa college students to participate in a Congressional internship program. Positions are available in Loebsack’s Iowa City, Davenport or Washington, D.C. offices. The Congressional internship program is open to undergraduate students and recent graduates, regardless of major. Fall internships typically begin around Labor Day and run through the end of the year, though specific dates can be set for each individual.

“As a former educator, I have seen the benefits that internships can provide by giving students a firsthand look into the government process,” said Loebsack. “I encourage all hardworking, motivated students and recent graduates to apply.”

Interns based in Washington, D.C. will focus on learning about the legislative process and the federal government by working closely with the legislative, communications and constituent services staff members. Interns based in Iowa City or Davenport will focus on providing constituent services and interacting with members of the community. Interested candidates should email their cover letter, resume, a short writing sample and a letter of recommendation to LoebsackInternship@mail.house..